German parliament to back military action in Syria against IS

Germany’s parliament is set to approve a direct role in the battle against the Islamic State group in Syria, answering France’s appeal for help with the deployment of reconnaissance jets, a frigate and up to 1,200 troops.

The parliamentary vote comes three weeks after jihadists killed 130 people in a series of attacks in Paris, prompting France to invoke a clause requiring EU states to provide military assistance to wipe out the IS group in Iraq and Syria.

Britain joined the US-led bombing campaign over Syria on Thursday, striking an IS-held oil field as the momentum to take action against the jihadist group increases.

After repeatedly ruling out the use of “boots on the ground”, US President Barack Obama also agreed to send as many as 100 special forces to Iraq, with a mandate to carry out raids inside Syria.

A broad coalition of 60 countries has been battling the IS since August 2014, although involvement in Syria has been more limited with some Western nations wary of how military action could actually end up serving President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which they view as no longer legitimate.

But reticence seemed to have melted away following the Paris attacks, and in the Netherlands, which has been bombarding the IS in Iraq, the government too is coming under pressure to widen the campaign to Syria.

Even in Germany, where there has traditionally been reluctance to engage in military missions abroad, the government’s decision to take direct action in Syria has been largely met with support.

An opinion poll in Die Welt newspaper Friday showed broad public backing of 58 percent of people surveyed in favour of the military deployment while 37 percent were against.

The support came despite a large majority of 63 percent believing that the risk of a terror attack on German soil will rise as a result of Bundeswehr involvement in Syria.

The military mission, which is expected to be approved as Chancellor Angela Merkel’s left-right coalition has an overwhelming majority, could become Germany’s biggest deployment abroad.

Meanwhile, France’s President Francois Hollande will on Friday visit the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the eastern Mediterranean off Syria where it is being used to conduct air strikes on Islamic State targets.

“He will meet military personnel taking part in operations to intensify the fight against Daesh in Syria and Iraq,” a statement from the presidency said, using another name for the jihadist group that has claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks.

– ‘War at speed of Tornado’ –
Germany’s Justice Minister Heiko Maas said the case for deployment was watertight legally.

“The Germans can be certain that the deployment to Syria neither violates international law nor the constitution,” he told the Tagesspiegel on Friday.

“We must stop this terrorist gang of murderers. That will not be achieved with military action alone, but neither would it be achieved without,” he said.

The package being considered by parliament includes six Tornado aircraft which have no offensive fighter capability and are specialised in air-to-ground reconnaissance.

A German frigate is intended to protect the Charles de Gaulle, from which French fighter jets are carrying out bombing runs, and the tanker aircraft could refuel them mid-air to extend their range.

Separately, Germany has also pledged to send 650 soldiers to Mali to provide some relief to French forces battling jihadists in the west African nation.

But the opposition asked if Germany is being forced to make a weighty decision too hastily.

“We are being made to decide in three days if Germany would once again be dragged into a war. We do not want to be dragged into a war at the speed of a Tornado,” the Left party’s Petra Sitte told parliament.

But Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen defended the swift action, saying it sends a “signal that we are resolved to fight IS”.